TAAL, Batangas — THIS year’s Miss Earth 2024 candidates visit Batangas and take a bold move in one of the advocacies of the pageant, by showcasing not only the province’s rich heritage but also its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable innovation.
None other than Senator Loren Legarda and her son, Leandro Legarda Leviste, welcomed the candidates and hosted a tour for them in Batangas’ rich heritage town of Taal and one of the most visited beach town, Calatagan.
This year’s visit included an exclusive tour of the Calatagan Solar Farm, a landmark project of Solar Philippines founded by Leandro Legarda Leviste in 2016 as first large-scale solar power plant in Batangas. Legarda Leviste’s vision has transformed the renewable energy landscape in the Philippines, earning him global recognition from Forbes, Bloomberg, and Ernst & Young as a trailblazer in sustainable energy.
The Calatagan Solar Farm visit provided the Miss Earth delegates with a first-hand experience of one of the Philippines’ key renewable energy projects. This solar farm not only powers thousands of homes but also provides livelihoods.
The delegates also participated in a coastal cleanup at the scenic Peninsula de Punta Fuego yesterday, reinforcing the Miss Earth pageant’s advocacy for environmental preservation.
Beyond environmental engagement, the 18 Miss Earth delegates immersed themselves in the rich cultural heritage of Batangas. They visited the Taal Market, toured the historic ancestral homes of Marcela Mariño and Felipe Agoncillo, and admired the grandeur of the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, the largest basilica in Asia.
Legarda underscored Batangas’ crucial role in promoting the beauty of the entire country. According to the senator, the province perfectly encapsulates the theme of Miss Earth 2024, ‘Heritage,’ which celebrates the resilience and spirit that define the Filipino people.
Legarda encouraged the beauty queens to continue to be champions of cultural and environmental preservation. She emphasized that empowered women are unstoppable forces in society, capable of fostering courage and nurturing people and heritage.
Change also demands allies – young women like you who bring the courage and conviction that define the Miss Earth movement. This platform amplifies your powerful voices, allowing you to bridge cultures, promote unity, and inspire change that ripples across continents,” the senator said.
“Heritage is a gift, and it is women like you who carry it forward with grace and strength. No one preserves it with more resilience than women who stand tall, committed to truth and justice,” Legarda added.
The Miss Earth 2024 Coronation Night will take place on November 9 at Okada Manila in Parañaque City.| – with Ghadz Rodelas
